Achilles Tang Primer

[Bladez]

I've tried both fish in a powerhead/airstone QT setup and have lost the specimens within days. So I must be doing something wrong, my QT is not set up properly or I've gotten something less than a healthy specimen - In any case I've had much better luck adding them directly to my DT and dealing with the Ich.

That's just my $.02.

Not sure what is consider a high quality QT setup. I QT both my PBT and Achilles the same time in a 20g tank with a small powerhead and airstone. Using the tank transfer method for 3 weeks with parzi treatment and 1 week observation. Both are thriving in my tank for over 6 month now.

 

[sushi4u]

Dont want my question to get buried, but any issues with discoloration in the AT.
No ich and no diseases. Can it be chemistry related, stress related, or nutrition.

Not really sure because my AT doesnt really demonstrate any of these issues.

 

[adeebm]

I would assume its a nutrition issue. Fish look their best with a high quality diet. The more frozen or live the better.

--Adeeb

 

[Bladez]

3 Months in my tank now.

<iframe width="640" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/tjnCoot9YAc?feature=player_detailpage" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[Bladez]

Be sure to check the video quality settings - choosing a high quality setting will allow you to see details. Such as the HLE that I'm dealing with on this specimen.

3 Months in my tank now.

<iframe width="640" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/tjnCoot9YAc?feature=player_detailpage" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[Osteopth]

So, I've had my Achilles Tang for 10 months. He's doing great and I'd like to share my experience. My early experience is on this thread starting on January 30, 2012. I bought a small, < 3 inch, AT from Live Aquaria (not Diver's Den). If he had Ich during the transfer method (29 gallon tanks with MP10's) I didn't see it. QT in a 75 with two MP10's for 12 weeks. Had an injury to his scalpel that I let heal with time.

He started by eating macro algae, then ate nori soaked in Selcon. He was eating nori when I first put him in my DT. I'd throw clips into the corner he liked, then one day he started eating mini mysis. Id take a cube and let it melt on the outside of my MP40. After that he ate everything I threw in the tank, and still does. I think it helped that he saw the other fish eating in my DT.

He's happy healthy and strong in a 240 with three other tangs (yellow, sailfin and scopas). I think he took to eating a variety of foods because he was young when I got him. I'd never throw one directly into my DT, I lost most of my fish after I did that with a Powder Blue Tang. The transfer method is easy and solve the Ich problem. I haven't had an Ich outbreak since I started using the transfer method. You don't have to suffer through outbreaks. I also treated with PraziPro x2 during transfer method, easy to add, then you discard the water

I'd be happy to answer any questions, I'm no expert, but after a lot of research I seem to have been successful on my first try.




Thanks, Tim Barrett

 

[Bladez]

5 Months in and going strong... What a great fish!!

<iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/eJ9qtjIzOwc?feature=player_detailpage" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[Dmorty217]

Update on my fish:
As some of you read, I put my achilles into the main display and he got a major case of flukes when he got jumped by the powder blue.
I treated with a course of freshwater dip for 6 mins/prazipro and separated the fish with an eggcrate divider.

He came down after several days and flukes went away. After about week I decided to risk reintroduction of fish by removing the eggcrate. After some dancing around and reestablishing the pecking order, they are living fine.

He still doesnt eat much except nori but he does "try" NLS and flake here and there. I currently soak nori in selcon and garlic once a day for them to eat. He does eat nori relatively decently. He has established himself as the alpha dog and the powder blue stays away from him for the most part. It is fun to watch them both because the AT will cruise the outside of the tank in a large O and the powder blue will cruise on the opposite side doing the same thing. They each swim past the nori and grab a bite and swim away...

The tank is in semi hyposalinity at 1.012 and I plan on dropping it to 1.009 to do the 2 month hypo treatment. He has not shown signs of ich but with him being from a wholeseller, i know he has a VERY good chance of having ich.

For the record:
Tank size: 180gal
Tank inhabitants: 1 small yellow tang, 1 medium (fatass) desjardini tang, 1 medium powder blue tang and 1 medium achilles tang.
For movement I have 1 koralia magnum 7, 1 tunze 6045, 1 koralia 1400 evo, and 1 sure flow moded MJ1200. My return is a sedra 9000.

PS i dont plan on adding any more tangs unless the LFS has a sale, then I am going to add 2 clown tangs, 1 more achilles and 1 purple tang, all separately.:crazy1:

Here are a couple pics, sorry for the algae and bad quality, he wont stay still.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60123349@N06/7141003341/" title="P1040958 by playaslk, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7061/7141003341_4232751e82.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="P1040958"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60123349@N06/7141004395/" title="P1040948 by playaslk, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7098/7141004395_5d24215eca.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="P1040948"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/60123349@N06/6994912314/" title="P1040949 by playaslk, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7262/6994912314_99c08bdf04.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="P1040949"></a>

With these fish you plan on adding I hope you have a 500g aquarium setup somewhere otherwise you can be assured several of your tangs will be killed by bullying

 

[Dmorty217]

I know super saturated o2 levels in the tank are necessary for good health and success with these fish, so how do those of you who have had one for a year or more in your tank accomplish this? With a air pump and air stone in the sump along with power heads? I'm currently setting up my 220g from my 125g. I have a closed loop with a reeflo hammerhead with educators, a Tunze 6215 wavebox and a MP60 flow will be somewhere in the 20k+ gph range within the DT. Is this enough? Should I get a nice air pump to further oxygenate the water? Tangs are by far my favorite fish and the Achilles tops that list so I plan on adding one to my 220g once it is up and running for a few months. All input is welcomed

 

[Bladez]

A BIG skimmer...

I know super saturated o2 levels in the tank are necessary for good health and success with these fish, so how do those of you who have had one for a year or more in your tank accomplish this? With a air pump and air stone in the sump along with power heads? I'm currently setting up my 220g from my 125g. I have a closed loop with a reeflo hammerhead with educators, a Tunze 6215 wavebox and a MP60 flow will be somewhere in the 20k+ gph range within the DT. Is this enough? Should I get a nice air pump to further oxygenate the water? Tangs are by far my favorite fish and the Achilles tops that list so I plan on adding one to my 220g once it is up and running for a few months. All input is welcomed

 

[Pallobi]

With these fish you plan on adding I hope you have a 500g aquarium setup somewhere otherwise you can be assured several of your tangs will be killed by bullying

Not true...

 

[Dmorty217]

Not true...

So you think that 2 clown tangs another Achilles and a purple in a 300 with the other tangs he already has there will be no problems?

 

[Bladez]

I have 4 LARGE tangs in my 84x24x24 tank - 2 X 5" yellow, 1 X 4" black and 1 6" Achilles and the Achilles fights with the back tang despite the space. YMMV....

So you think that 2 clown tangs another Achilles and a purple in a 300 with the other tangs he already has there will be no problems?

 

[reef80]

Okay...so i order a archillis off dd on tbursday...and just receive a call from LA that it wont arrive till tomorrow due to delay...i was like wth...n i will be out tomorrow...plus i had my work address as the delivery site...this is not good to begin with such a beautiful specimen...

 

[Dmorty217]

Okay...so i order a archillis off dd on tbursday...and just receive a call from LA that it wont arrive till tomorrow due to delay...i was like wth...n i will be out tomorrow...plus i had my work address as the delivery site...this is not good to begin with such a beautiful specimen...

Lucky you and not so lucky I guess.... I tried to order one from LA yesterday and when I went to purchase someone had purchased it before I could! I will be on LA several times a day for however long it takes them to get another one in. Good luck with your new beauty!

 

[reef80]

Lucky you and not so lucky I guess.... I tried to order one from LA yesterday and when I went to purchase someone had purchased it before I could! I will be on LA several times a day for however long it takes them to get another one in. Good luck with your new beauty!

Yeah...I'm not sure if it is going to be alive now that it will be like over 36+ hours...after reading all these pages of how difficult it is to keep them. Me too have been on and off on DD to patientently wait for one and now this...bummer...:mad2:

 

[SantaMonica]

My achilles attempt was before they got expensive. But still, the timing was bad... fired up the 57w UV which usually knocks out ich, but the bulb was bad and I had no backup. By the time the replacement bulb came from MD, the ich got him.

 

[Dmorty217]

I have heard p a lot of people having success with the tank transfer method, followed up by prazipro and cupramine if need be. This will be what I follow when I finally get mine. Reef I hope you get lucky an the guy pulls thru for you

 

[Osteopth]

I have heard p a lot of people having success with the tank transfer method, followed up by prazipro and cupramine if need be. This will be what I follow when I finally get mine. Reef I hope you get lucky an the guy pulls thru for you

I did tank transfer method with PraziPro. No need for cupramine, but I also QT'd in a 75 for 12 weeks. Mine is healthy as could be with never a sign of Ich.

 

[Dmorty217]

I did tank transfer method with PraziPro. No need for cupramine, but I also QT'd in a 75 for 12 weeks. Mine is healthy as could be with never a sign of Ich.

I have a 55 QT setup with a Tunze 6205 and am using 12g fuge tanks for the TT. The AT will be in the QT a minimum of 8 wks so 10 wks total of observation and fattening up!